Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-20
REFORM, NOT REVENGE.

New York in January last. 1t is PAM
phlet of seventy pages, the greater por-
ton of the information being tsbulated
and arranged in concise and convenient
form. The State Reformatory of New
York has been in operation for eleven
years, and is now one of the most popu-
lar institutions of that commonwealth.
It's humane treatment OF prisoners and
laudable efforts to reform the erring in
stead of merely Furnishing the delinquent,
are well worthy of consideration by the
statesmen 'of Texas, IS they are being
considered by other states; and, the early
adoption of the plan of reform in opera
tion in New York cannot be fastened too
much. The pamphlet contains the re-
port of the board of managers, the
Notwithstanding financial
and statistical report; of the secretary
of the school, of the physician and of
experimental cases where artificial and
scientific methods were pursued to arouse
cerebral activity and general physical i'm
provement IN dull minds and heavy
bodies which were ordinarily esteemed
incorrigible. The cost of the institution
is Sl,158,7O5, of which was expended for
additions in 1886, 1892, 1899. The cost of
maintenance of the inmates over the
earnings of the institution tor the five
years ending in 1886, was an average of
$4,000 per annum or 80 per cent. The
inmates earned 1851, S84, or 20 per cent. of
the expense of their keeping. This is not a
reformatory for juvenile criminals merely;
it deals with all those who are not hope
lessly lost to all sense of moral Obliga-
lions and considerations of good citizen
ship. The success of the institution is es-
tablished beyond all peradventure by the
facts as compiled, and in the experience
Of ten years. OF the number committed
to the reform prison few are detained
indefinitely, but the great majority Of
them are liberated, after being taught the
duties and responsibilities of citizenship,
and, of those so liberated, 81.9 per cent.
make good citizens and useful members
OF society. In the year 1856 these
figures were increased to 81 s per cent.
The system of sentences recommended by
the board of management is calculated to
inspire these unfortunstes with a desire
to reform. The law as it now stands
gives the managers power to exercise
Int "a
latitude, they believe, should be given.
Indefinite sentence, conditional release,
parole release and the mark system are
features to be embodied in the new law
to be asked for. These systems have
been recommended by very high authority
in this country. The Michigan Bureau
of Labor says: ave trust the day is
not far distant when criminal Justice
shall be administered upon the principle
that the end of the penalties is to reclaim
the criminal, and that no offender has a
right to be restored to society until he
shows that he is ready to respects its
laws" This is the theory upon which
the New York reformatories have grown
up, and it is not only plausible but Just
and humane. That society has the right
to remove from its midst any one who
grossly sins against it's laws, for it's own
protection primarily, is question that
will not be disputed; the punishment of
the offender is merely an incident. If
then society has q right to lncarcerate
any one unworthy to remain q member,
it is utter nonsense in society
to expect that member TO have improved /
during his Imprisonment in the ordinary
penitentiary or that he shall come out
any better qualified TO remain in society |
than when he went in. Is it not clearly !
the duty of society, then, to not only free
itself from the presence of unworthy |
members, but also to aid and encourage
those culprits to reform, and learn to
become useful members? There are .
some, comparatively few, whose mental
hebetude or moral obliquity renders them
hopelessly inGorrigibIe, These society (
should throw aside as chsf. The great
majority Of younger criminals at least,
may be taught wholesome respect for
law and method by which they can earn
an honest living when freedom is granted
them. The system of indefinite SEN
fences, in some form or other, first advo-
Gated by Mr.. Frederick Hill of England,
is finding it's way into most of the civil
lied countries. Already we find it in
England and Wales, in the Bahamas,
in the Fiji Islands, in Lsbuan, China, and
in the United States of Colombia. The
mark system renders definite an 1ndef-
mite sentence by enabling the condemned
to curtail the period of his in
by his own efforts,
by industry, diligence, good behavior
and progress in learning. It establishes in
miniature form, system of free govern
ment around him patterned after the
great world without, where his efforts
bring their rewards and his dereliCtion its
own punishment. This is true reform,
not revenge. OF the multitude sent to
these reformatories it is estimated that
795 per cent. are unable to earn living,
having no trade and no experience in
sboring work. OF course these people
will not starVe. True reform, therefore,
should not content itself with making